Augustus the Strong (1670-1733) – a King’s passion for porcelain

Ruth Sonja Simonis

Augustus the Strong (1670-1733) had great things in mind when he purchased the “Dutch Palace” (later called the “Japanese Palace”) in Dresden in 1717. He aimed to create a “porcelain castle” in which every room was decorated with wares from East Asia and Meissen. Two time frames for the furnishing of the palace are very well documented: The acquisitions that were made around 1717 in Holland, as well as the additions which entered the collection between 1721-1727. The lecture takes a closer look at Augustus’ passion for East Asian porcelain and his special aims and interests regarding collecting objects from the Far East.